Control handle



Oct. 17, 1944.

W. J. TURNBULL Filed Aug. 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Y L L WM uP m N u m T J- M m L mm W W. J. TURNBULL Oct. 17, 1944.

CONTROL HANDLE Filed Aug. 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM J. TURNBULL 2 $5 4 M0 AT NEY inf

Get. 17, 1944. w. J. TURNBULL CONTROL HANDLE Filed Aug. 20, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fag/raj u w mm VR w I M m L HIP W Patented Oct. 17, 1

CONTROL HANDLE William J. Turnbull, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to The Glen L. Martin Company, Middle River, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,464

7 Claims. (01. 200-157) This invention relates to a control handle whereby many operations can be effected. .The handle may be used singly, or in pairs mounted on a connecting yoke or spindle. While this type of control has many applications, the problem of immediate concern is the control of power-operated gun turrets.

In high altitude fighting planes, the gunner in the power-operated turret is isolated from the crew of the ship. His job is to aim one or more guns by controlling the elevation of the guns and the train of the turret. He is in communication with the pilot by-the intercommunication system. These tasks require many controls, literally at his finger tips. The gunner can be kept warm by means of electrically heated clothes but due to the controls he must operate, his hands must be uncovered. When the gunner has had to operate metal controls with his bare hands at high altitudes and low temperatures, after the excitement of a dog-fight, or any other cause, clue to the palms ofthe hands perspiring, his hands may freeze to the controls,

By this invention a hand grip for a control is provided that afiords a natural repose position of the hand of the operator and thereby lessens fatigue. The surface of the hand grip is extended and indented to comfortably accommodate the hand of the operator.

The hand grips of this invention being made of a plastic material, or any base material covered with plastic material, the hands of the operator will not freeze to the grips.

Further objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the accompanying drawings which form a part of the disclosure and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.

It is to be understood that certain changes, substitutions, alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims:

Figure l is a perspective view of a pair of con-- Figures 5 and 6 show a slightly modified form Y of the invention.

In Figure 1, the control yoke generally shown as I, comprises a supporting pedestal Z and a horizontal member 3,.upon the ends of which: are mounted a pair of hand grips t and-5. V

The hand grips are shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 shows the hand grip comprising a body member 6 and a cover member 1, preferably of plastic material or any base material covered with plastic. A f errel 8 is moulded in, or otherwise secured to a body member 6 and is internally threaded, in the preferred form shown, for mounting on the yoke or spindle.

It should be pointed out that the ferre is inserted in the grip in such a position that the axis of the ferrel intersects the center of pressure of the hand of the operator. The contour of the grip is such-that the opera-tor will always grasp the grip in the same manner. Due to pitching and tossing of the aircraft, or any vehicle on which the control maybe used, the operator sure of the hand of the operator is substantially on the axis of the spindle, theoperator may brace or steady himself 1 on the grips. without causing inadvertent moving of the guns.. In other words, in normal operation and use, there will be no turning moment on the grip, due to the center of pressure coinciding with the axis of the mounting spindle. I p

The body member and cover'member have cavities formed therein for the reception of switches 9, I0 and H. The switches 9 and Ill are unitary, self-contained sw'itchesfitted into the cavities in the body portion and cover portion. These switches can be adapted to any control circuit. The usual uses towhich they are put in a poweroperated gun turret are, switch Sin the left-hand grip is a microphone switch on an intercommunh cation system, whereas switch 9 in the right-hand grip is a speed. control switch and switch ii! in each grip-is a fire control switch. Switch H is also mounted in a cavity formed by the body and cover portions. 1 This switch is a master switch on the circuits of the control switches and, as can be seen from Figure 3, is actuated by the hand of the operator when placed ontliegrip; Switch H is actuated by lever I2, pivoted .to the cover member. Lever I2 is urged outwardly of the cover by spring 29.

Lever I3 is pivoted at I 4" to member 25' and 26 tion ll of lever l2 acts as a cam surface on which follower ll rides and causes lever I2 to move inside the grip and close switch II. If the hand of the operator is removed from the grip, lever II is moved upwardly by the spring II and the circuit is broken.

Element ll shown in invisible lines is a reinforcing member in the plastic lever 13. Figure 4 shows the cooperation between control switch l and its actuating lever 20. This actuating lever is mounted in a cavity formed between the body portion and cover portion and is pivoted at 2|. It should be noted that actuating member 20 is located in the hand grip so that it forms a con-, venient and natural rest for the index finger of the hand of the operator.

The location and purpose of switch 9 can best be seen in Figure 1. The external surface of the grip is formed with indented portions for the reception of the hand of the operator and indented portion 22 is designed for a thumb rest. Indented portion 22 is located adjacent 22 and forms an alternative position for the thumb of the operator. Thecontrol button 24 of switch 8 extends through the surface of the indented portion 23, thus it can be seen that the operator can easily and quickly operate switch 9 by moving his thumb from the normal to the alternative thumb rest.

The operation of the assembly can be followed on Figures 1 and 2. The operator grasps a grip in each hand, in doing so actuates levers l3 and I2, thus closing the master switches of the operating circuits without effort. Twisting the han- I dlesin either direction about the horizontal axis of the spindle controls a mechanism to elevate and vary the rate 01' elevation of the guns, turning the, spindle bymeans of handles or grips in .either direction about the vertical axis of the spindle, controls the train and rate of motion in train of the turret.

Member 20 on each hand grip is connected to actuate trigger control mechanism or may be adapted for any other control.

Member 20' onthe right hand grip can be adapted for firec'ontrol. Switch button 24 on the left hand grip can be adapted to control the intercommunication system or any other similar circuit. Switch button 24 on the right hand grip is adapted for speed control.

It will be seen from the drawings that the hand grip is so designed that its extended surface has extended and indented portions to accommodate the hand of the operator in a comfortable and natural position. The internal cavities of the portions oi the grip are adapted to take the switches and actuating members and can readily be formed by a simple moulding operation.

The unitary switches are put in place, indexed by projections on the cavities and corresponding notches in the switches and retained by the cover member which is held by screws 22. The threaded bushings 21 are moulded into the body member 6. The only machine operation is the driiling of the holes for the pivot pins to mount the levers l2 and l2.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modified form of the hand grip for a control having a single control ,switch ill actuated by member 20 and a master control switch similar to switch I l instructure and function. It should be obvious that the number and location of the switches can be varied according to the adaption of the hand grip.

I claim as my invention:

1. A director and control assembly adapted for a gun turret mounted for movement in azimuth having guns mounted for movement in elevation comprising a pedestal member, a spindle member mounted on said pedestal member for turning movement about the longitudinal axis of the spindle and bodily swinging movement about an axis of said pedestal normal to said spindle axis, the turning movement about said first-named axis adapted to effect the'control of the gun in elevation and the bodily swinging movement of the spindle about the second-named axis adapted to effect the control of the motion of the turret in azimuth, a pair of elongated hand grips one fixed to each end of'said spindle to eifect a turning of the spindle on said first-named axis by a rotation of the hand grips on said axis and to eifect a bodilyswinging of the spindle about the second-named axis, each of said hand grips being fixed to the spindle near the mid-portion of the hand grips, switch means on each of said grips to position the hands of the operator grasping the grips whereby the axis of the spindle member substantially intersects the line of thrust of the hands of the operator.

2. A director and control assembly comprising a pedestal member a spindle member mounted on said pedestal member for turning movement about the longitudinal axis of said spindle and bodily swinging movement about an axis of said pedestal normal to-said spindle axis, the turning movement about said first named axis effecting the control of one motion of the director and the bodily swinging movement of the spindle about the second-named axis effecting the control of another motion of the director, a pair of elongated hand grips one fixed to each'end of said spindle to effect a turning of the spindle on said first-named axis by a rotation of the hand grips on said axis and to effect a bodily swinging of the spindle about the second-named axis, each of said hand grips being fixed to the spindle near the mid-portion of the hand grips, switch means on said grips to position the hands of the operator grasping said grips, whereby the axis of the spindle member substantially intersects the line of thrust of the hands of the operator.

3. A director and control assembly comprising a spindle member mounted for turning movement about the longitudinal axis of the spindle and bodily swinging movement about an axis normal to the spindle axis, the turning movement about said first-named axis effecting the control of one motion of the director and the bodily swinging movement of the spindle about the second-named axis effecting the control of another motion of the director, a pair of elongated hand grips one fixed to each end of said spindle to effect a turning of said spindl on said first-named axis by a rotation of the hand grips on said axis and to effect a swinging of said spindle about said second-anmed axis, each of said hand grips being fixed to the spindle near the mid-portion of the hand grips, switch means on saidgrips to position the hands of the operator grasping said grips, whereby the axis of the spindle member substantially intersects the line of thrust of the hands of the operator.

4. A director and control assembly comprising a spindle member mounted for turning movement about the longitudinal axis of the spindle and bodily swinging movement about an axis normal to the spindle axis, the turning movement about said first-named axis effecting the control of one motion of the director and the bodily swinging movement of the spindle about the second-named axis effecting the c0ntrol of another motion of the director, an elongated hand grip fixed to said spindle to effect a turning of said spindle on said first-named axis by a rotation of the hand grip on said axis and to effect a swinging of said spindle about said second-named axis, said hand grip being fixed to the spindle near the mid-portion of the hand grip, switch means on said grip to position the hand of the operator grasping said grip whereby the axis of the spindle member substantially intersects the line of thrust of the hand of the operator.

5. A moulded plastic hand grip for use in a gun turret director and control assembly comprising a body portion disposed at one side of said grip and said body portion forming at least a part of a front face disposed toward the operator, a mounting ferrel extended from the side of said body portion opposite saidcover portion making such an angle with said body portion that said hand grip will be so inclined that it will afford a natural repose position for the hand of the operator, said front face having formed therein an idle thumb rest cavity and a switch cavity, a switch projecting from within the body of the grip into said switch cavity, said two cavities being adjacent each other so that the switch may be easily operated by the thumb of the operator by movement of the thumb from the idle rest cavity into the switch cavity.

6. A moulded plastic hand grip for use in a gun turret director and control assembly comprising a body portion and a cover portion, said cover portion disposed at one side of said grip and said body portion forming at least a part of a front face disposed toward the operator, said front face having formed therein an idle thumb rest cavity and a switch cavity, a switch projecting from within the body of the grip into said switch cavity, said two cavities being adjacent each other so that said switch may be easily operated by the thumb of the operator by movement of the thumb from said idle rest cavity into said switch cavity, a trigger switch projecting from the back face of said body portion, opposite said idle thumb rest cavity, so that when operated by the index finger of the hand of the operator, the thumb of the hand of the operator in the idle thumb rest braces the grip against inadvertent movement as the trigger switch is actuated.

7. A moulded hand grip for use in a gun turret director and control assembly comprising a body portion and a cover portion, said cover portion disposed at one side of said grip and said body portion forming at least a part of a front face disposed toward the operator, said front face having formed therein an idle thumb rest cavity and a switch cavity, a switch projecting from within the body of the grip into said switch cavity, said two cavities being adjacent each other so that the switch may be easily operated by the thumb of the operator by movement; of the thumb from said idle rest cavity into said sw tch cavity.

WILLIAM J. TURNBULL. 

